H&F Food Plan - 2025 to 2030,Key challenges, outcome and priorities: Priority b) Healthy Eating – Objective: Everyone can access healthy and affordable food

What do we know in H&F

Low socio-economic status (in terms of education level, work status and income) is the single most consistent risk factor for an unhealthy diet. A healthy diet costs the poorest people 72% of their disposable income, compared to 11% for the wealthiest.¹⁵
A good diet is crucial from the prenatal stage and throughout early childhood. It sets the foundation for healthy growth and development. Breastfeeding offers numerous health benefits for both infants and mothers. Early years are also key for establishing positive eating habits and attitudes towards food, which can influence a child's openness to trying new foods later. A poor diet during this critical time can increase the risk of developing chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Cancers and impact mental and emotional well-being, lead to dental issues, and have other long-term negative health effects.¹⁶
The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which are often high in salt, fat, and sugar, has been linked to an increase in chronic diseases. These foods tend to affordable to most but be less filling, leading to overeating. UPF examples include fizzy drinks, shop-bought biscuits and cakes, ready sliced bread, ready meals, reconstituted meat products, breakfast cereals, baby foods, and sweetened yoghurts.¹⁷
The standard British diet includes high amounts of UPF's in 57% of adults and 66% of adolescents, driving CVD, cancers, and poor mental wellbeing.
The rise of app-based food delivery services has changed the way we eat. The out-of-home dining environment has grown, driven by digital technology and the expansion of online food delivery platforms offering deals such as 'buy one get one free' and free deliveries. This trend, which is predicted to increase further, has negative implications for the consumption of a healthy diet since food outside the home tends to be less healthy.¹⁸
Diabetes is being diagnosed increasingly in younger people.¹⁹
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death for under 75's in H&F, many attributed to poor diet, particularly in deprived areas where rates exceed the London average. The rate of under 75 CVD mortality in the Fulham Broadway and College Park & Old Oak, is more than double that of other wards in the central and south of the borough.²⁰
37.4% of the adults are meeting the recommended fruit and vegetable intake of '5 a day' although this is better compared to a London average of 30% of the population.²¹
H&F has a lower child obesity rate compared to London and England however we know that children growing up in the most deprived wards in London are twice as likely to leave primary school obese as those in the least deprived areas. Lille, Hammersmith Broadway, Addison, Fulham Town and White City have the highest child obesity rates in H&F.²²
27% of children and young people with Mental Health Conditions, Asthma and/or Obesity live in the 20% most deprived areas. By contrast, 2% of children and young people with Mental Health Conditions, Asthma and/or Obesity live in the 20% least deprived areas.²³
Hammersmith and Fulham has a higher percentage (27.9%) of children with visual dental decay compared to the London average (25.5%).²⁴
H&F has 90 fast food outlets per 100,000 population compared to an average of 89.4 per population for London. H&F is ranked 18th in London indicating that residents are likely to be disproportionately exposed to fast food advertising. Density of takeaways is highest in the north of the borough.²⁵
The issue is not just about the availability of low-cost fast food, but also the obesogenic nature of the food itself, combined with socio-economic factors and marketing practices that contribute to poor dietary habits. This combination leads to health disparities, with lower-income individuals often experiencing higher rates of obesity and related illnesses.
There is a need for support and education for families around healthy cooking, sharing and celebrating good, health-giving, culturally appropriate meals using value for money recipes and making the most out of a limited income.
H&F lacks lower-priced supermarkets.
It is recognised that good food is crucial to health and wellbeing, as is making access to good food central to residents as identified in health and Social Care services and early years, education and youth/family settings.²⁶

Key outcomes

Residents have healthier diets.
People with diet related ill health is reduced.
People have the skills, confidence and motivation to prepare healthy food.
Increased opportunities for all communities to enjoy cooking together and increase growing spaces.
Understanding of nutrition is increased.
Healthier high streets and out of home food.

Areas of focus

Explore further access to affordable healthy food and offer support that goes beyond just providing food parcels. Particularly in areas where there is a lack of food aid provision/food deserts.
Implement the '1000 tweaks' social media campaign to encourage individuals, families, organisations and businesses to make small changes to help children and young people to eat good food and to better understand the impacts on health.
Work with partners to engage with supermarkets and food businesses on how they can offer reduced price fruit & vegetables and other nutritious food items at the end of the day.
Explore how food growing spaces can be increased, including community gardens and allotments.
To support the council's Public Health & Planning Teams to review decisions on the location and number of takeaway outlets across the borough and ensure affordable food retail is built into the Council approach to planning and regeneration.
Sign up 20 more convenience stores to be "Good Food Retailers" offering healthier lines of food and a point of sale for Healthy Start benefit cards.
Provide key information and best practice to schools that choose eating well to achieve bronze/silver/gold Healthy Schools Award and to other children's settings like the Family Hubs, Children Centres and the Care leavers hub to improve food education including healthy eating.
Explore with schools; a local school food standard that removes carcinogens and promotes plant-first options.
growing and cooking project, distribute food/healthy eating resource packs, and signpost to other resources.
Explore a collaborative Ethical and Low Carbon Advertising and Sponsorship policy to include junk food, high fat, salt and sugar), vapes and fossil fuels.
To promote existing services which provide healthy eating and cooking training for priority groups at risk.
Explore potential interventions and further partnership working, including recipe development, cookery skill lessons and no cook solutions which are accessible in areas or communities where we know that fruit/vegetable consumption is low.